Disappeared News

by Larry Geller

Utu Langi has three of his shelter buses ready to roll, but needs a place to park them.  Can you help?

His project has caught the interest of advocacy groups, religious and other advocacy organizations, and the media both inside and outside of Hawaii:

Driven to help the homeless

By Robert Shikina
rshikina@starbulletin.com

Utu Langi was returning from a trip to feed the homeless when he thought he could do more.

Tomorrow he will unveil his first mobile shelter-bus, a former tour bus that has been gutted and fitted with eight beds, which he plans to drive to areas of need and give the homeless a place to sleep.

"I'm so excited, I cannot wait to run it," he said. "I'm hoping to help a lot of people with this goofy idea." [Star-Bulletin 11/6/2007]

Mobile Homeless Bus Shelters Planned in Hawaii

HONOLULU —  A nonprofit group feeding the homeless has new plans for getting people off the streets — tour buses.

The group called H-5, or Hawaii Helping the Hungry Have Hope, is unveiling the first two of a fleet of mobile homeless shelters for Oahu.

Nineteen used buses have been donated to H-5 director Utu Langi by Roberts Hawaii for the project.

Langi is removing the bus seats and having the interior of each 40-foot vehicle retrofitted with eight beds in small partitioned units.

H-5 has been distributing about 6,000 meals a month around Oahu to increasing numbers of homeless.

The group plans to introduced the buses Wednesday, kickoff for the annual Walk the Talk 130-mile trek around the island to raise awareness of homelessness.

One of the buses is to travel with the walkers to introduce the mobile shelter to the homeless. Langi says he hopes to have five buses ready as shelters by mid-2008.[Fox News, 11/8/2007]

On last night's Town Square program, Langi told host Beth-Ann Kozlovich that the original plan was to drive the buses into the parks to provide overnight sleeping accommodations. The project would also increase the accessibility of support services since it would be an important point of contact.

But now the parks are closed at night, meaning the buses can't be there. Will the City make an exception? No, not the kindhearted City and County of Honolulu.

So three buses are ready to roll, but they need overnight parking facilities.

If you know of or can think of any available space and can make a few phone calls to help get the process started, please do that and then let Utu know what you have found at slangi [-at-] campus.hpu.edu or at (808) 522-0397.

I have been wondering about that huge parking lot over at the former CompUSA site. Maybe a few phone calls can turn up the owner. Or maybe a legislator has some ideas. Does anyone know about how to find out who owns a property?

This is a worthwhile project just looking for a nighttime home. Won't you help find one? Remember, these are 40-foot buses.

If you think you know a place, please go the extra mile and call them or otherwise push to break some space loose. Do you know anyone at Costco, Wal-Mart or other store with lots of parking space? What's needed is for you to call them if possible.

I hope something can be found for this wonderful project.

by Larry Geller

This past legislative session was not kind to those who are now homeless or who may find themselves in difficulty in the future. In fact, it can be argued that we're headed backwards, fleeing from the issues we should be facing.

Tune in tonight (Thursday) to Town Square, hosted by Beth-Ann Kozlovich, to learn what you won't find in the newspapers on this important issue. Guests are Utu Langi and Darlene Hein.

KIPO 5-6 pm 89.3 FM or listen via the web at hawaiipublicradio.org.

 

by Larry Geller

The word is spreading like wildfire: as a result of a state supreme court decision today, same sex marriage is now legal in California, the most populous state in the country, as well as in Massachusetts. Five other states permit civil unions that provide benefits equivalent to marriage.

What isn't well known is that the amendment to Hawaii's constitution  approved by voters in 1998 does not ban gay marriage here. It allowed the state legislature to enact a ban, and the legislature did so.

In other words, the ban is by statute, which can be changed without a change to the Constitution.

Top California court supports gay marriage

By Jim Christie

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - The California Supreme Court overturned a ban on same-sex marriages on Thursday in a major victory for gay rights advocates that will allow gay and lesbian couples to marry in the most populous U.S. state.

The court found that California laws limiting marriage to heterosexual couples are at odds with rights guaranteed by the state's constitution. Opponents of gay marriage vowed to contest the ruling with a statewide ballot measure.

...

The California court's 4-3 decision overturns state laws prohibiting same-sex nuptials.

The state's constitution "guarantees same-sex couples the same substantive constitutional rights as opposite-sex couples to choose one's life partner and enter with that person into a committed, officially recognized, and protected family relationship," the court said.

Californians in 2000 voted to reaffirm a 1977 state law defining marriage as union of a man and woman. Four years later, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom challenged that law by issuing marriage licenses to gay couples, which led to the court battle decided on Thursday by the state Supreme Court.

Newsom said his controversial policy had been vindicated and that he plans to resume issuing marriage licenses for same-sex couples in coming weeks. [Reuters, May 15, 2008]

If one must resort to an economic argument to lift the ban in Hawaii, one of the most compelling that I have heard recently is that if Hawaii still has a glimmer of hope to become a high-tech center, it will have to provide a social environment that high-tech people wish to live in.

California is a natural magnet for high-tech and creative people in part because of its well-known tolerance. And now it is even more attractive, and not just to those who have been demanding an equal chance to marry. It is once again demonstrating tolerance. Hawaii is demonstrating... what? You can make your own list of pros and cons that creative executives and knowledge workers might weigh before deciding to establish a business here.

I'm not suggesting that "tolerance" is a magic key to economic success here. I think it is a prerequisite. In terms of interracial marriage, for example, Hawaii is a well-known leader. I believe that we really do understand tolerance.

So given today's decision in California, shouldn't we begin to re-think our own discrimination and whether it is time to undo it? No ConCon is needed, just a great big campaign to convince our legislators to do the right thing.

Or a ConCon, I suppose, that would work also.

by Larry Geller

It's hard to say from this brief KITV report, but it appears that the Honolulu Police may have tased a man with mental health issues. The article describes self-injurious behavior, which can be a characteristic of several mental illnesses.

Police Use Taser To Stop Man Injuring Himself

HONOLULU -- Police arrested and brought down a man with a Taser after he was injuring himself and bicycling through traffic on Nimitz Highway Tuesday morning, authorities said.

A homeless man got into a domestic argument in the Sand Island area, police said.

Then he was seen hurting himself with a sharpened file tool and bicycling in and out of traffic on Nimitz Highway, according to police.

A group of police surrounded the man and stunned him with a Taser, authorities said.... [KITV, May 13, 2008]

So the man was surrounded. Why not put on handcuffs? Was the use of the Taser (which can kill) necessary?

I'll be asking to view the video, which should be a public record. HPD requires that requests be mailed to them, so it will be in the mail tomorrow.

(Thanks to Doug who brought this to my attention in a comment to the previous post.)

 

by Larry Geller

I'm on Oahu and new police chief Darryl Perry is on Kauai. I've never met him, but I'm concerned.

There's every indication that he is planning to beef up Kauai's police force in such a way that it will become a threat to the peaceful citizens of Kauai.

In the past they've somehow gotten along without riot gear, Tasers and other advanced weapons on the island. That's an admirable situation, because since there weren't those hazardous weapons around, they couldn't be used against anyone.

What changes when police militarize for no purpose is only one thing: people will be hurt or killed either accidentally or through misguided use of force. It's inevitable. You provide a trigger and a finger to use the trigger. Sooner or later they meet, by design.

Check out these and other articles on Island Breath. They have some great illustrations, too:

We don't want tasers for Kauai Police Too often, giving a cop a taser is like giving a kid a new squirt gun.

Danger of a Paramilitary Police Force Soldiers and police are different. Warmakers vs Peacekeepers

What kind of KPD do you want to face? Dayne Aipoalani found himself overwhelmed by a SWAT squad

by Larry Geller

I've mentioned before that other than tourism and serving the military, there doesn't seem to be any workable model for an economy in Hawaii.

Exploitation is the only model I see over time for any island (Singapore is different, it's not an isolated island).

Whether it's mining the guano and then abandoning the place or plundering any other natural resource, whether it's testing atomic bombs, or whether it's tourism and the military, it's all been exploitation. Outsiders come, chew up the local people, suck out the life force, and spit them out.

One can include development in this. We all pay dearly for their profit.

And now the isolated island of Niihau is meeting the same fate. Check out Joan Conrow's article posted today, Musings: Take, Take, Take.

 

by Larry Geller

I just got the word via a Google Alert that Ian Lind's blog has been selected to represent Hawaii at the DNC. The announcement is here. And of course, Ian has something on his own blog.

We're going to have some good reporting. If you are not currently using a newsreader, you may want to look into one of the many available and tune in to Ian's RSS feed. That way you'll have his reports faster than anyone else. Certainly faster than print media or even TV. (Hmmm... Ian, how about some Ustream TV from the convention floor? (hint) )

It's great that Ian is willing to make the trip. It's no small expense and no small effort to do this. Thank you, Ian!

by Larry Geller

I thought that the NIE would be an obstacle to Bush's plan to bomb Iran. Not so, according to Scott Ritter, former UN arms inspector, in this interview by Progressive Review editor Matt Rothschild.

Bush is using the NIE to prove he must bomb Iran. Ritter explains the "logic". He thinks the danger of a military attack on Iran is very high just now. And according to Ritter, Congress has already given Bush the go-ahead.

Along the way he insists that the US has no peace movement, and much more. This program is a must-listen.
Click here to listen, or go to this webpage at the Progressive Review to download the program.

by Larry Geller

Kauai is a beautiful place, and the people are the best. I love the Big Island and particularly the volcano. Never been to Molokai, and Maui is ok.

But Oahu is for me. Here's one example of why (snippet):

Monks to perform ritual at extended 'Dragon's Gift' exhibit

Advertiser Staff

"The Dragon's Gift: The Sacred Arts of Bhutan" exhibit will remain open at the Honolulu Academy of Arts for an extra weekend this month, during which monks will perform a special ritual.

After consulting with Lopon Ugyen Dorji, principal of Pangrizampa Temple in Thimphu district and the foremost astrologer in Bhutan, the Honolulu Academy of Arts obtained permission to extend the closing from May 23 to May 25.

"In consideration of the importance and popularity of the exhibition, we wanted to give visitors a last weekend to be able to see "The Dragon's Gift," Academy of Arts director Stephen Little said in a news release.

To mark the closing, the five monks in residence will today start a sand mandala, which according to custom is consecrated then dispersed. On May 24, the monks will perform a ritual at 10 a.m. and will give small bags of sand from the mandala to visitors, before dispersing the colorful sand at an as yet to be announced location....[Honolulu Advertiser, 5/8/2008]

We have the museums, the art... it's not New York City, but it has many of the things I like.

 

by Larry Geller

I can't stop wondering why the Superferry issue keeps coming up. Probably because the underlying conflicts have yet to be resolved. None of them.

But it seems that Kauai is deep in the throes again. Hey, it's May already and it's still not going back there, but it's clear that Kauai is in the Superferry's cross hairs again.

Following new CEO Admiral Tom Fargo's broadside that it will be up to the people of Kauai when the Superferry returns (he can stay home and watch them duke it out on TV, how cool), no fewer than three polls are running simultaneously to find out, kind of, whether he'll see any action or not.

There's the Garden Island poll (lower left of page), one by County Councilperson Mel Rapozo (upper right), and even a Maui News poll for some reason (these links won't be good in just a few days, if you're going vote, vote soon).

Also waiting in the wings looking through their crosshairs are the Kauai Police, whose new police chief, Darryl Perry, is taking advantage of his first 100 days of popularity to bulk up his force with riot gear and Tasers and stuff.

While reviewing the 25 tasers and riot shields requested in the budget at a cost of $29,800, discussion turned to the August protests over Hawaii Superferry’s first two trips to Kaua‘i.

Rapozo said that officers seemed unprepared and improperly outfitted to handle the hundreds of demonstrators who rallied at Nawiliwili Harbor.

He questioned if 25 riot shields was enough, noting that similar protests will likely occur again for a different controversial issue or whenever the interisland catamaran decides to resume passenger-vehicle service to the Garden Isle.

“The Kaua‘i Police Department was not prepared for what happened,” Perry said, referring to the Superferry protests.

The department still lacks the necessary equipment to handle such a situation “instantaneously,” but operational plans are now in place to partner with other agencies to effectively respond, he said.

He said this is the first phase of an equipment upgrade, noting his preference to the term “protective shields” rather than “riot gear.”

And you'll recall that I wrote some time ago about a secret procurement by the Harbor Police of body armor and maybe some stuff many of our fighting forces don't have in Iraq (actually, they could be ordering bazookas, we'll never know because the order is under seal).

A confrontational protest would give these paramilitary folks a chance to break heads and practice using their Tasers. I hope no one seriously wants to give them that opportunity. Wouldn't it be better to just let them play with their new toys around the police barracks and let it all rust in a few years?

If/(when) the Superferry decides to venture back to Kauai, it would be better if it didn't leave a wake of broken heads, tased bro's and drowned surfers. Brains work better than brawn anyway.

To learn what this arms buildup portends for the Garden Isle, tune in to KKCR at 4 pm today (Thursday). They stream from kkcr.org if you can't pick up their wave from wherever you are.

See also this Island Breath article and this one. Isn't Photoshop great?

by Larry Geller

by Larry Geller

The AP seems to have gone right to the issue: the Superferry will not be punished for its underreporting of lobbying expenses (article via KPUA):

State Ethics Commission says Superferry will not be punished

HONOLULU (AP) _ The state Ethics Commission says Hawaii Superferry will not be punished for grossly underreporting its lobbying expenses last year.

The company spent nearly 380-thousand dollars lobbying lawmakers in 2007, as it fought an environmental impact statement and then asked for legislation allowing it to resume interisland service.
But Superferry executives initially reported only 22-thousand dollars in expenses.

Thank you, AP.

by Larry Geller

I still haven't convinced myself that a constitutional convention would be a good thing, but if we could use it to bring democracy to these islands, maybe it would be worth it.

Richard Borreca wrote about the attempted palace coup (not the one at Iolani Palace, the one next door at the Capitol) in his column this morning.

It's a good read, very revealing of the annual game the House plays each year trying to unseat its leadership and install a new regime.

A silly game? Perhaps, but think of it this way: imagine Calvin Say as the Dictator of Hawaii. The guy who determines what bills will be heard or not, which laws will be passed, which vetoes will be overridden, who gets money and who does not. He and the Senate President can overrule your vote and my vote. We are nothing in the shadow of their power.

Read Borreca's last paragraph:

But remember in the Hawaii Legislature, when it is time to decide what bill lives, what program is cut or even how much money there is to spend, the last two coming out of the back room are the speaker of the House and the Senate president.

For those of us who spend hours at the Legislature giving testimony, the end-of-session conference committee meetings demonstrate that democracy has yet to take hold here. Indeed, the decisions are made in those back rooms and merely announced at the conference committee meeting.

We need reform very badly. If a bill has sufficient testimony it should be heard. Committee chairs (probably working under orders from their leadership) should not be able to refuse to hear a bill.

Committee members should be required to be present if they are to vote on a bill, no selecting a compliant quorum of members who never heard the testimony and directing them how to vote.

No "secret" amendments should be sprung on the selected quorum that have not been the subject of proper notice and receive testimony.

There's more that could be done, of course, and let's not forget replacing the conference committees entirely with joint meetings, in the open, to work out differences between bills.

Maybe we should have a unicameral legislature. Who needs two versions of each bill anyway? And who needs two dictators in the Legislature?

by Larry Geller

The sub-head to the Advertiser article yesterday, "Ethics panel satisfied with effort to amend initial claim of $21,960" is incorrect. There was no hearing, so nothing went before a "panel." The Commissioner simply nodded in approval when the amended report was filed.

In the absence of any oversight by the Ethics Commission or anyone else, why should we believe the headline, "Superferry paid $379,431 for lobbying" or any other number they now claim? Their amended report is $379,431 but we don't know what they really paid. Originally we were supposed to believe $21,791.56. That was their self-report. \

The amended report was filed after Ian Lind wrote to the Ethics Commission raising the question of underreporting. A hearing might have verified the report but there was no hearing.

Not only is there no hearing (despite a "confession" being on the table), the Commission never questioned the original report itself. It took an inquiry by an observant and intrepid reporter to start the wheels moving. Nor are they verifying that the new report is correct.

How many other lowball reports are still in the files? Is that data any good at all?

Leaving the matter this way is like posting a giant billboard, advertising to any company that there is no downside to filing false or incorrect reports in this state. If maybe you get caught, just file a bigger report, then the Ethics Commissioner will say nice things about you. No worries, no fine, no criminal accusations.

Even if there should be a fine, what is $500 in the face of the huge lobbying expenditure? The execs may well spend that much when they get together for a dinner meeting. Let's ask the Legislature to fix the law next session so that it has some teeth.

The lack of oversight is a setback for the rule of law in Hawaii and for the Ethics Commission itself. Smiling on white collar crime is not what they are there for.

by Larry Geller

It's his 89th birthday today. Jean King just called to remind me (I had forgotten).

Two years ago we cooperated to create SeegerFest, which thanks to the Internet and Jean's nationwide contacts, led to celebrations of Pete's 87th birthday all across the country. I recall there were more than 40 events altogether.

For young readers who may not know the name, please Google and listen to his music. Better yet, try singing it yourself and see if his songs change your life.

by Larry Geller

A good story at the top of the front page today. It correctly notes that the Superferry company's erroneous filing of a low report was initially discovered by Ian Lind:

The Ethics Commission first questioned Superferry's lobbying expenses in response to an April 10 letter from Ian Lind, a freelance writer and blogger who works for state Rep. Lyla Berg, D-18th (Kuli'ou'ou, Niu Valley, 'Aina Haina).

Lind expressed skepticism about the accuracy of the Superferry reports, and yesterday said Mollway's decision not to take action against the company "isn't very satisfying."

He said it's unlikely company officials or their agents were ignorant of lobbying disclosure rules, partly because he has written on numerous occasions about lobbying activities at the Legislature, including those of Superferry.

Lind also felt the reporting form, which includes categories for media advertising, preparation and distribution of lobbying materials, compensation paid to lobbyists, and other specific items, is neither vague nor ambiguous.

"Their public relations consultants and paid lobbyists, I'm sure, are very aware of what the rules are. If it wasn't intentional, it was certainly negligent. The negligence is the damage to the public's ability to be sure its rights were protected in this whole legislative decision-making," he said.

I'm a little mystified why Ian's action is associated in this article with his employment by state Rep. Lyla Berg.

But the main disappointment, of course is that the Ethics Commission is so far declining to hold a hearing and is willing to let the ferry company off the hook completely. Had Ian not written his letter, the original report, for only $21,960, would likely have remained unchallenged indefinitely.

As the article notes, the company even outdid well-known high-spenders from Pharma. But the pill pushers may have reported their activities as the law required, while the ferry company, I can't resist, steered us wrong.

The rules for filing the lobbying expenditure are easy enough. You can find information on the Ethics Commission website here. The form is here. You can see how clear it is. Just fill in the expenses, pretty easy, not like income tax. The Superferry's reports are here.

It's not like the Superferry can't pay that tiny fine, they aren't even being required to do so.

Ok Hawaii companies, you have the message now from the Ethics Commission itself (forget their inspiring  cartoon): File whatever you want and see if a blogger happens to catch you.

That's Hawaii's new filing law (de facto). And shucks, if you're caught, it's only $500 anyway, and that's really unlikely too.

Add ethics laws to the long list of other laws that are simply not enforced in Hawaii. That's an ethical issue all its own, isn't it?

by Larry Geller

An article datelined Saturday May 3, Occupation of Palace Area Invigorates Native Hawaiian Movement, continues national attention to the reoccupation of Iolani Palace begun on Wednesday.

Just getting a paragraph like this before the eyes of the national reading public will surprise many who may never have heard about the overthrow:

The group believes it has the right to take back from the government more than one million acres in the Hawaiian Islands it claims were illegally seized during the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy in 1893, 11 years after the palace was built.

For most NY Times readers, Hawaii may just be a vacation destination, no more. This and other articles open the way for letters to the editor and other discussions on the national scene that might raise awareness.

The article also discusses OHA, an organization most readers will never have heard of:

Hawaiian Kingdom Government and some other Native Hawaiian groups view the Office of Hawaiian Affairs as an arm of a state government they do not recognize. They also part ways with the office on the issue of ceded lands, more than 1.2 million acres in crown lands that were ceded to the federal government when the United States annexed the republic of Hawaii in 1898. The land passed to state control when Hawaii was admitted to the union in 1959.

by Larry Geller

More breaking news related to Austal, the manufacturer of the Superferry. This is from a WKRG television article posted yesterday, Noose Found In Employee Breakroom:

Some workers at Austal USA in Mobile got an unwanted surprise Thursday morning.
They walked into the break room and found a noose hanging from the ceiling.

The short article centered around whether the noose was a hate crime or just a joke.

Another article is here.

In March, a lawsuit was filed by 22 current and former black employees of Austal who claimed that there is widespread racial discrimination at the company. See: 22 workers sue Austal for racial discrimination.

by Larry Geller

The daily papers, for some reason, haven't gone near the issue of alleged manufacturing defects in the Superferry, although the blogs are abuzz with discussion.

Reporter Kristin Hashimoto of the Big Island Weekly has finally put something in print (I assume, all I can see from Oahu is their website), and added to concerns about manufacturing defects.

She asks if it's Time to jump ship?

Superferry manufacturer under fire

By Kristin Hashimoto

Thursday, May 1, 2008 9:54 AM HST

Former Austal employees allege the Hawai`i Superferry's Alakai is operating with manufacturing defects. They also warn that her sister ship, currently under construction, will have similar problems.

Kristen included reports from sources other than the three workers who were interviewed on KKCR:

Austal's own inspector found problems with the vessels during manufacturing. Teresa Hart is a certified level two inspector specializing in ultrasonics, magnetic particle and liquid penetrants. She is qualified to conduct visual inspections and to supervise welding, and was hired by Austal to provide quality assurance even though there was no department handling that facet of the manufacturing process. "Even when they were trying to hire me, they told me they didn't want a quality assurance department or manager," Hart said.

While onsite in Mobile as the Alakai was under construction, Hart noticed problems with some of that ship's welds. They "just weren't right," she said. ". . . there were welds missing, that's a pretty big deal and I thought, well, surely they'll bring somebody in and they'll catch it. It's never normal to miss a weld." Hart told a supervisor about them at the time but was told that her work was restricted to another ship.

While the ships didn't have a lot of quality assurance people eyeing each process and weld, Hart explained that Austal used x-rays to insure the structural integrity of the joinery. Still, Hart was concerned. As her clamors about quality control grew louder, she was terminated in March 2007, five months after she was first brought onboard. Reason? "They told me I wasn't a team player."

Wayne Jenkins, who spoke out on the KKCR program, was also terminated.

This article adds to concerns about the manufacture of the Alakai and its sister ship, due for delivery next year.  Kristin does report that the Coast Guard inspected the ship and its welds and passed it.

How long will it be before the daily papers look into these allegations? Or maybe a TV station or two? Doesn't the public deserve to know that these questions are being asked?

As to why the papers are reluctant to bring you much adverse news about the Superferry, I have a theory. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so I'll close with this snip from the Advertiser's website, though I could have snipped similar from others:

This is courtesy of attorney Lanny Sinkin. Our daily newspapers refuse to carry news and viewpoints of the Hawaiian people. I think this op-ed should have a venue, and it is a shame that there is no space in a Hawaii newspaper for it.

---

Aloha or Empire?

During the August 2007 installment of the Superferry saga, the actions of public officials amounted to the disintegration of the rule of law.

The Hawai′i Supreme Court ruled that the State had to prepare an environmental assessment for the Superferry harbor improvements and Superferry's operations. Under the law, completion and acceptance of that assessment was a prerequisite to any further implementation of the Superferry project.

The Attorney General said the Superferry could operate while preparing an assessment. That position had no support in the law.

The Governor, the Director of the Department of Transportation, other State agencies, the Coast Guard, the Department of Homeland Security, and Superferry officers all embraced the Attorney General's false legal position, producing the confrontation in Kaua′i in which citizens risked their lives to enforce the law.

The Mau′i court later confirmed the illegal nature of continued Superferry operations and entered a permanent injunction.

The Governor then called a special session to consider a law prepared by the Attorney General. Those who led the charge to violate the law admitted the truth when they sought to change the law in order to allow Superferry to continue operating.

The Legislature refused to consider impeachment of the Governor and the Attorney General for their lawless acts. Instead, the Legislature gutted the environmental laws by passing a new law that allows Superferry to operate while an environmental impact statement is prepared and that states the Superferry can continue to operate whatever the results of that study.

All of this was done in the face of a judicial finding by the Judge in Mau′i that the operation of Superferry threatens irreparable environmental harm, as well as other social and cultural damage.

It is, therefore, not a surprise that this same Attorney General would decide to appeal the Hawai′i Supreme Court decision regarding the ceded lands. That decision confirmed the legal status of the Hawaiian Kingdom as a government in absentia and required the State of Hawai′i to hold the ceded lands in trust until the issues raised by the illegal overthrow are resolved.

In the Superferry episode, the Governor and Attorney General sought to enrich their political allies and offered up the Hawai′i environment on the altar of profit. They also sought to further a military presence on this forward base for the war planned with China.

In the decision to appeal the ceded land decision, the Governor and the Attorney General seek nothing less than to extinguish the Hawaiian civilization.

The historical attack on that civilization included demonizing the traditional spiritual practices, banning the language, banning the hula, destroying the common land ownership system, dismantling the sustainable economic organization, and otherwise stripping away the elements of the civilization. To pursue such policies amounted to an attempted genocide of the Hawaiian people.

Now the last step is being taken by the inheritors of the original illegitimate acts. The lands are to be finally taken, with some developed and sold off into private hands. As the Hawai′i Supreme Court recognized in its opinion, the land was the spiritual, cultural, and economic foundation of the Hawaiian civilization. Removing that foundation destroys the civilization.

The United States military, the transnational corporations who treat self sustaining communities as the enemy, the land speculators, the political servants of empire, and all the others that exploit Hawai′i for their agendas hope to dance on the grave of Hawaiian civilization.

Will the non-Hawaiian people of Hawai′i simply stand by and watch? Or will they demand the Attorney General withdraw the appeal?

The Hawaiian people extended aloha to all. However uncivilized the new comers, the hope always existed that the haoles (foreigners) would some day learn the true meaning of aloha. The sheer patience of the Hawaiian people is the most remarkable element in this entire story. That patience is founded in their continuing belief that aloha is the only pono path for Human interrelationships.

For the invasive culture, "Live aloha" still appears to be no more than a bumper sticker.

Auwē noho′i ē!

Lanny Sinkin
Attorney at Law (Federal Practice)
Ali'i Mana'o Nui by appointment of Ali'i Nui Mo'i Edmund Keli'i Silva, Jr.

by Larry Geller

... but not via the Superferry. Today's good news is that the owner of Young Brothers will indeed purchase and operate Aloha's cargo service.

Whether their charges will be the same or not, how many former Aloha employees will be rehired, and so forth, have yet to be determined, but this is certainly good news.

Several articles over the past few days posited the Superferry as a cargo carrier. My understanding, and at this point it may not matter, is that the PUC has tariffed the Superferry as a passenger carrier, not a freight carrier. Hence the need to have the driver accompany the goods. Of course, it's possible to apply for a new tariff, or I could even be wrong about this.

by Larry Geller

 

May 1 is May Day.

Martin Luther King Day is Martin Luther King Day. Mothers Day is Mothers Day, etc.

Why is this one day co-opted as "Lei Day," "Law Day," or anything else but May Day?

Could be a corporate plot. But May Day will survive Lei Day. Here's some evidence of its strength:

by Larry Geller

Today's news: a person who knew an awful lot about the personal lives and nighttime activities of important people in Washington was found dead:

Deborah Jeane Palfrey, convicted last month of running a high-end prostitution service in Washington, apparently committed suicide in Florida, officials have confirmed. ['D.C. Madam' Palfrey Found Dead in Fla., Washington Post, 5/1/2008]

Maybe it was suicide (it probably was, though the medical examiner has not yet spoken).

And probably Paul Wellstone's small plane crash was an accident, and probably John F. Kennedy was killed by a sole assassin.